Measles, a virus that was eradicated in 2000, has made a resurgence over the last few years and has resulted in an outbreak that continues to grow. Multiple factors, including declining vaccination rates, increased international travel, and the spread of misinformation about vaccine safety, have contributed to the resurgence of measles in the US. To counter this growing threat, it’s critical to focus on proven measures that slow the spread and protect public health.
This dangerous virus has far-reaching consequences, but there is a lot that can be done to support public health during times like this. This dangerous, highly transmissible virus results in illness in people of all ages. The action to take now is to raise awareness; it will take the efforts of many to turn this around.
Join us as we dispel common misconceptions about this virus and discuss proper vaccination, testing, and more.
Let’s dive into the background of measles, ensuring we understand where it came from, when it was introduced to the United States, and how contagious it is.
Although the Measles virus, or Rubeola, has a history that dates back to the 9th century, it wasn’t reported in the United States until 1912. In the decade following that first report, an average of 6,000 deaths related to measles were reported every year. After that, the virus became increasingly widespread until it was common knowledge that nearly all children got measles by the time they turned 15.
In 1963, an effective measles vaccine was developed and distributed. The vaccine contributed to a swift and extreme decrease in measles cases over the next few decades. An outbreak in the late 1980s prompted the official recommendation of a second dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine to school-aged children.
Measles is an extremely contagious virus that lives in the throat and nasal mucus of a person who has been infected. The virus is easily spread through sneezing and coughing, and it has a unique ability to live for up to two hours in the air or on a surface in an area where an infected individual has sneezed or coughed. Measles also presents in the form of a rash, which appears both on the skin and inside the mouth.
According to the CDC, measles is so contagious that, if you are infected, up to 90% of the people close to you who do not already have immunity will become infected, too.
With odds like this, it’s easy to understand why the virus can spread so quickly in places with a constant flow of people, like airports or theme parks.
The MMR vaccine is the most effective tool in preventing measles. Two doses are approximately 97% effective at preventing the disease.
Vaccination recommendations:
Children: First dose at 12-15 months; second dose at 4-6 years.
Adults: At least one dose if not previously vaccinated or lacking evidence of immunity.
High-risk groups (e.g., healthcare workers, international travelers): Two doses.
In outbreak areas, unvaccinated individuals should receive the MMR vaccine promptly. While vitamin A supplementation can reduce measles severity in malnourished children, it is not a substitute for vaccination.
The current measles outbreak in the United States has starkly highlighted the critical role of vaccination in preventing the spread of this highly contagious disease. As of April 2025, the CDC reported that 97% of measles cases occurred in individuals who were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. This overwhelming majority underscores the vulnerability of unvaccinated populations to measles infection.
In contrast, the MMR vaccine is highly effective, providing approximately 93% protection with one dose and about 97% protection with two doses. Communities with high vaccination coverage benefit from herd immunity, which helps protect those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons.
The resurgence of measles cases, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates, highlights the importance of maintaining high immunization coverage. Public health officials emphasize that increasing vaccination rates is essential to prevent future outbreaks and protect public health.
For most people, the answer is no, getting measles once typically provides lifelong immunity.
After recovering from the illness, your immune system produces measles antibodies that protect you from future infections. This is also the principle behind vaccination: both the measles infection and the MMR vaccine train your immune system to recognize and fight off the virus if you’re ever exposed again.
However, there are rare exceptions.
Individuals with compromised immune systems may not mount a strong enough defense to retain full immunity, making them more susceptible to reinfection. Additionally, if someone was vaccinated but didn’t develop adequate immunity—something that happens in a small percentage of cases—they could still be at risk.
The best way to ensure protection is through vaccination. If you're unsure about your immunity status, especially during an outbreak, speak with your healthcare provider about getting tested for measles antibodies or receiving an additional dose of the vaccine.
Measles, though preventable through vaccination, continues to cause fatalities both in the United States and globally.
As of April 2025, the US has reported over 700 measles cases across 25 states, with Texas being the hardest-hit state, accounting for more than 500 cases. This is far more than we saw in 2024.
Tragically, there have been three confirmed measles-related deaths: two unvaccinated children in Texas and one adult in New Mexico. These deaths mark the first measles fatalities in the US since 2015.
Worldwide, measles remains a significant health threat, particularly in regions with low vaccination coverage. In 2023, an estimated 107,500 people died from measles, with the majority of deaths occurring among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under the age of five. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that, in 2024, the European Region experienced its highest number of measles cases in over 25 years, with 127,350 reported cases and 38 deaths.
These statistics underscore the critical importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to prevent measles outbreaks and associated deaths. Public health officials emphasize that the MMR vaccine is safe, effective, and essential for protecting individuals and communities from this highly contagious disease.
By ensuring widespread immunization and addressing vaccine hesitancy, we can work towards eliminating measles-related deaths both in the US and around the world.
A measles antibody is a protein produced by the immune system in response to the measles virus (Rubeola). Antibodies are your body's defense mechanism, they recognize and neutralize viruses, helping prevent future infections. When someone is infected with measles or receives the MMR vaccine, their immune system generates specific antibodies that target the measles virus.
There are two key types of measles antibodies:
IgM antibodies: These appear shortly after infection—typically within the first few days of symptom onset—and indicate a recent or active measles infection. Testing for IgM is often used to confirm a current measles case.
IgG antibodies: These develop later and provide long-term immunity. IgG antibodies are what remain in the body after recovery or vaccination and are a sign of past infection or successful immunization.
A measles antibody test is a blood test that checks for these antibodies to determine whether a person has immunity. This test can confirm if someone has been previously infected or vaccinated, which is especially important for healthcare workers, travelers, or those exposed to confirmed cases.
Understanding your antibody status is crucial during a measles outbreak, particularly in communities with low vaccination rates or rising case counts. If you’re unsure about your measles immunity, talk to your healthcare provider about getting tested or receiving the MMR vaccine.
Since measles is so highly contagious, the most effective way to control its spread is by immediately reporting, testing, and subsequently diagnosing the presence of the virus as soon as a non-immune individual begins showing symptoms such as fever, red, irritated eyes, a cough, and a runny nose.
Measles is diagnosed by collecting a throat or nasopharyngeal swab sample and testing it for measles RNA and antibodies using an RT-PCR test.
Once collected, the swab sample is placed directly into a liquid transport medium and sent to the lab for testing. If infected, patients should be isolated for a period of four days to prevent the spread of the virus to other non-immune people around them. Unfortunately, once infected, there is no designated antiviral treatment for measles. The sole purpose and benefit of medical treatments after a positive diagnosis is to relieve symptoms and comfort the patient until their condition improves.
Remember: sample integrity is important. Learn more via our blog.
When diagnosing respiratory illnesses like measles, selecting the appropriate swab type is crucial for accurate results. Nasal swabs, commonly used in home testing kits, are less invasive and suitable for self-collection, making them ideal for preliminary screenings. In contrast, nasopharyngeal swabs reach deeper into the nasal cavity and are typically administered by healthcare professionals to collect specimens from the upper part of the throat behind the nose.
These swabs are often preferred in clinical settings due to their higher sensitivity in detecting pathogens. Understanding the distinctions between these swabbing methods can aid in effective disease diagnosis and control.
Since healthcare professionals are subject to measles exposure by way of close contact with infected patients, it’s extremely important that they take all CDC-recommended precautions and use the correct single-use products for testing, as well as follow correct procedures for sample transport.
A media transport system like Puritan's UniTranz-RT™ with a flocked swab like PurFlock Ultra® is the ideal combination for obtaining and containing a sample for fast transport and testing. Flocked swabs bring superior collection and elution properties.
Since different methods of sample collection present different challenges and requirements, consider the available styles of universal transport systems to select the configuration suitable for your collection.
Along with using the right products, taking the CDC’s recommended precautions and following all procedural standards is the best way to stay safe during 2025’s measles outbreak and help prevent the outbreak from turning into an endemic.
Looking to stay prepared during respiratory virus season or a potential measles outbreak? Stock up on the swabs and transport systems you can trust. Puritan offers a full range of American-made, high-quality diagnostic products to support accurate specimen collection and lab processing.
When it comes to public health, there’s no time to waste. Get expert product recommendations or place an order—contact our team today.